Two guys walk into a bar...
Two guys walk into a bar and four days later emerge with slightly damaged livers.
san
Ok, so San Fran wasn't just an exercise in (a lack of) alcoholic self restraint but we have vowed to somehow replace the bar staff of Melbourne with the free pouring staff of San Fran but more on that later...
Getting up bright and early on Saturday we made our way out to Melbourne Tullamarine which, surprisingly, was smooth and relatively straightforwarded (well, until we realised we didn't receive our BOARDING PASSES). Thankfully Bradley was on top of his game and rectified the situation. Excellent way to start the trip. We were also able to check in to our connecting flight from LAX to SFO which saved us a whole lot of time in LA.
We left almost exactly on time which is unheard of for Qantas and a few drinks later I dozed on and off until we arrived in LA.
LA is great aside from the fact that there is an extreme number of ghetto-fabulous Americans all expecting the world, damn the consequences! We laughed to ourselves, removed our shoes and headed through security to our three hour wait.
So glad we opted to fly to San Fran rather than get the bus... We were there in around 45 minutes and at our hotel around 45 minutes after that. We stayed at an environmentally sustainable hotel called The Good Hotel which uses reclaimed materials and esd friendly bits and pieces. More of a motel than a hotel it was comfortable and remarkable quiet. A couple of naps and a bit of a wander from SOMA (South of Market St - a fairly major thoroughfare and transportation route) to the Castro (gay central in SF) and back again meant our day was fairly much done.
Then the night began. We weren't too sure how public transport worked yet so we thought we would walk to meet our friends. An hour later (and a very long trangent) we arrived at Q Bar and experienced first hand just what SF bartenders are famous for. My liver didn't know what hit it (and this coming from the guy who drinks martinis like water...). Thank you to Andrew and Jason for showing us sights and delights (including a naked man which I really could have done without seeing) and taking us on a bar crawl to Badlands and Moby's. The rest of the weekend followed suit with some sight seeing, more drinking and a long overdue catch up with my friend Xavier at Truck.
One (slight) hangover later and Monday arrived. Bradley and I played tourists and visited Fisherman's Wharf via the famous cable car, trekked through SOMA and did a bit of window shopping in Union Square. Getting into a bit of a routine we visited a placed called The Stud (ahhh SF...) for a night called 'That's Not Drag') and oh it really wasn't. SF drag is not pretty and there is no such thing as 'gender illusion'. Interpretive dance, a monologue to foreskin and a wonderful show based on a cable network cooking show called 'Semi Home Made'. Oh and an ending based on cat massage. Something that left a mark/scar :)
The weather had been gorgeous so we spent Tuesday in Doloroes Park with fine company and argueably the greatest sandwich from a hole in the wall place called Ikes. Tuesday was a slow day with wanders through the Mission, one last drink at Moby's and a long, cold walk care of the rapidly changing SF weather we headed home for a comparitiely early night.
We checked out on Wednesday, said our goodbyes and headed to LAX to be greeted by the always lovely Lindsay and Marcus in a bright blue camper van. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to LA.
san
Ok, so San Fran wasn't just an exercise in (a lack of) alcoholic self restraint but we have vowed to somehow replace the bar staff of Melbourne with the free pouring staff of San Fran but more on that later...
Getting up bright and early on Saturday we made our way out to Melbourne Tullamarine which, surprisingly, was smooth and relatively straightforwarded (well, until we realised we didn't receive our BOARDING PASSES). Thankfully Bradley was on top of his game and rectified the situation. Excellent way to start the trip. We were also able to check in to our connecting flight from LAX to SFO which saved us a whole lot of time in LA.
We left almost exactly on time which is unheard of for Qantas and a few drinks later I dozed on and off until we arrived in LA.
LA is great aside from the fact that there is an extreme number of ghetto-fabulous Americans all expecting the world, damn the consequences! We laughed to ourselves, removed our shoes and headed through security to our three hour wait.
So glad we opted to fly to San Fran rather than get the bus... We were there in around 45 minutes and at our hotel around 45 minutes after that. We stayed at an environmentally sustainable hotel called The Good Hotel which uses reclaimed materials and esd friendly bits and pieces. More of a motel than a hotel it was comfortable and remarkable quiet. A couple of naps and a bit of a wander from SOMA (South of Market St - a fairly major thoroughfare and transportation route) to the Castro (gay central in SF) and back again meant our day was fairly much done.
Then the night began. We weren't too sure how public transport worked yet so we thought we would walk to meet our friends. An hour later (and a very long trangent) we arrived at Q Bar and experienced first hand just what SF bartenders are famous for. My liver didn't know what hit it (and this coming from the guy who drinks martinis like water...). Thank you to Andrew and Jason for showing us sights and delights (including a naked man which I really could have done without seeing) and taking us on a bar crawl to Badlands and Moby's. The rest of the weekend followed suit with some sight seeing, more drinking and a long overdue catch up with my friend Xavier at Truck.
One (slight) hangover later and Monday arrived. Bradley and I played tourists and visited Fisherman's Wharf via the famous cable car, trekked through SOMA and did a bit of window shopping in Union Square. Getting into a bit of a routine we visited a placed called The Stud (ahhh SF...) for a night called 'That's Not Drag') and oh it really wasn't. SF drag is not pretty and there is no such thing as 'gender illusion'. Interpretive dance, a monologue to foreskin and a wonderful show based on a cable network cooking show called 'Semi Home Made'. Oh and an ending based on cat massage. Something that left a mark/scar :)
The weather had been gorgeous so we spent Tuesday in Doloroes Park with fine company and argueably the greatest sandwich from a hole in the wall place called Ikes. Tuesday was a slow day with wanders through the Mission, one last drink at Moby's and a long, cold walk care of the rapidly changing SF weather we headed home for a comparitiely early night.
We checked out on Wednesday, said our goodbyes and headed to LAX to be greeted by the always lovely Lindsay and Marcus in a bright blue camper van. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to LA.